The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-09
EXTENT TO WHICH 1T WENT In
WEST TENNESSEE.
Pifty.seventh Anniversary OF the
Memphis and Shelby County
Bible Society.
REV. II. W. ERWIN DETAILS THE
ORIGIN, BIM AND PURPOSE
or the InstitutiOn - Other Features
Of the Meeting, and ON
GERS Elected.

Church last night. Owing TO the
war state OF the atmosphere, the at
tendance was somewhat lighter than
expected, but all present manifested a
deep interest In the work tf Bible
distribution a, carried on by the 80
ciety. After the voluntary by the
choir, doxology by choir and congre-
CATION, Scripture reading by the Rev.
II. A. Jonee, prayer by the Rev. DR..
J. l. Martin and a hymn by the
choir, the report Of the Executive
Committee, through Secretary I. II.
Rec, was read. Il exhibited favor
abe state Of affairs, though by no
means up to the limit merited
by the laudable enterprise.
As explained By the secretary,
il demonstrated that the insti ution
hsd q firm hold on tie affections of
Christians and was therefore in fine
shape to bs pushed TO mammoth pro-
portions.
President C. W. Heiskell followed
with remarks urging faithful CO opera
ton aHocg religious peope, and pre-
senticg the claims Of the institution in
a elsar and flTcible style. Another
hymn vas then sung, after which the
Rav. Z. W. Irwin, pastor OF the Cen
trsl Methodist Church, read The follow
ing address. As ii gives history OF
the Bible Society and its work, it is
gwen IN full:
De. xRwIS's Address.
MEN die, institutions live" Atthe
age OF seventy the human flame gives
sxus Of sbating force and eventual
decay, bat in organizations for Chris
tan work another law prevails-a law
Of constant growth, of abiding energy,
Of increasing power, Of enlarged eff
cheney. Twenty years ago this month
q convention OF delegates from twenty
eight Bible societies met in the city OF
New York and organized the Ameri-
can Bible Society. All who partici-
Ia.ed in the business OF that conven.
ton have passed away from earth, and
of the crowd OF interested spectators
only enc Is known to survive; but in
the good providence Of God the society
whose organization was hailed with
enthusiasm a. happy omen OF Chris
tau union and cooperation, from
which local feelings, party preiudices
and sectsrian jealousies we're excluded,
and whose work, even in the begin
ming, was developed with a halo oil
grandeur, has gone from strength to
strength, ministering to the blessed
ness Of millions and diffusing radi'
ance through the world. No tongue
can tell. no pen can describe how
much better, how much happier the
world is today than it would have
been had the Bible been q sealed
book for seventy years past. The
power OF that open book in our land
and its power throughout the worl'
in controlling opinion and conduct
was never greater than 1t Is today
and among the agencies which Goo
has employed for securing this result
the American Bible Society has
place in the foremost rank. Sucl
is the pregnant language OF thu
"Seventieth Report" of tie Amer
lean Bible Society in May, 1886
Although almost every one is sup
| posed to know more or less OF tn,
American Bible Society, yet 1t is NJ.
part OF this evenings work to speak
few words concerning this prIviden
tial institut on and its work. AS seel
from the passage quoted from the az
nual Of the American Bible Society
this institution was 20 years old lst
May, and is now doing some OF tn
greatest work since it's organization
The 4 merican Bible Society has n
ndowment fund. 1t depends 10
funds upon the rent Of the lowe
rooms in New York City, and upo
the voluntary donations and beques
of individuals, and the surplus money
of auxiliary societies. Yet, founde
, by faith in The living God, and with
conviction Of the great need OF such 9
institution, 1t has proceeded to d
its grand work till this "a
The Issues OF the American BIB
Society during its existence amount
1857, 648 copies--not including Il
year new ending. II this year is {
average you may add 100000 copi
: to the number given, equsling abo'
48,000,000 copies. The annual NEE
I irg will be held next Thursday, whit
! the lahore, successes, achievements
another year will become a matter
: history and go to swell the alres'
honorable record Of this gigantic Q
terprise. This Society belongs TO TO 81
, church, but to Gods people. 1t ther
fore issues the pure word OF Go
without note or comment, the authC
! ICED yersion OF the Bible IN Englie
or traus'a.ion into other tongues.
is, according to we'll establis
: ed principles, a benevolent in, til
: ton, supplying the destitute whe
they have been found unable to su
: ply MISUNDERSTANDING no respect
persons, Christians, MohsmmeGans
9 pazaus sharing alike in these benefit
y Let rs note its world wide word.
!, has pr n,ed Bibles in the followi
tonguee: German, French, Wells
= Spanieh, Pc tugese, Danish, Swedis
p Italian, Dutch, Hebrew, Greek, Ara
% ic, Syriac, Russian, Hungarian, Bob
y milan, Polish, Irish, Finnish, Africa
. Sandwich Islands, Armenian, Slav
70 Bulgarian, Chinese, Japanese, 1ndi
for about ten tribes, besides Bib
with raised letters for the blind, al
In all this these books are &c
In at cost. This Is not an insit
ton for making money. 1t b
only such salaried officers
" are needed to conduct its busineI
r declares no dividends for any boo
b. The more money II makes the me
oil books II makes and the more 1t &C
a, ters throughout the length q
at breadth OF the world. II will ne'
40 break down as long as the heart OF
no Christian world responds to the cry
Up those who need the light Of the p'
le word OF God.
al Here is a shadow. The receipts
IL the laat fiscal year were $685.. $40 6S
n, decrease from, the previous year
ks $64,003 70. As 1t is the pol
I'd of the society to steer clear OF de
oil the expenditures were cut down eN
more, so as TO keep ssie margin.
curtailment OF work was necessary
- was deemed wissst-in fact the o.
We thing that could be done wi
an oct loss--to curtail at no
no in oolportsge, and continue I